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Residents living near the multi-million-pound Queens Road development site were concerned about how landscaped areas would be maintained.

Chartwell Land Investments of London have now agreed that, instead of using pesticides for weed control, only natural methods would be employed.

This will mean applying bark chippings and leaf mulch to planted areas as well as weeding by hand to avoid adding to pollution in the area resulting from increased traffic.

Chartwell agreed to adopt the eco-friendly policy after people living near the area raised concerns when the developers applied to increase the size of the scheme and alter the landscaping, parking and access arrangements.

The scheme, which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the depressed area, will now be increased by 2,850 sq ft and there will be more landscaping than originally intended.

Discussions have also been held with police over security issues and it has been agreed that the site, on a former tip, will be covered by closed-circuit television.

Security staff will also be on site and there will be measures including reinforced glass introduced to prevent ram raiding and vandalism.

The regeneration scheme will include shops, restaurants, pubs and office space.